verb B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

converse

kuhn-VURS

Converse (verb) means to talk with someone; to have a conversation. Example: “They conversed quietly in the corner of the room.”

verb

To talk with someone; to have a conversation.

"They conversed quietly in the corner of the room."

"It was refreshing to converse with someone who really listened."

adj

Reversed in order or relationship; opposite.

"The converse of that statement is not necessarily true."

"He argued the converse position to hers."

noun

The opposite or reverse of something, especially a statement or idea.

"If all squares are rectangles, the converse — that all rectangles are squares — is false."

How to use converse

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs a verb, simply "to talk"; as an adjective or noun, "the reverse or opposite" (as in logic or argument).

Common mistake

Don't confuse this with the shoe brand Converse, which is unrelated and always capitalised.

Word forms

conversed past tense, converses plural, Converses plural, converses singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They _____ quietly in the corner of the room.

Etymology

The verb is from Latin conversari, "to live among, keep company with." The adjective/noun sense comes from Latin conversus, "turned around."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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chat common confab confabulate conversate convo discourse jaw parley treat word

Related words

public general talk community special deal word common

Rhymes for converse

verse averse inverse reverse adverse diverse immerse universe perverse disperse traverse multiverse

See all rhymes for converse →

Frequently asked questions

What does “converse” mean?

The word “converse” means to talk with someone; to have a conversation. In plain terms, as a verb, simply "to talk"; as an adjective or noun, "the reverse or opposite" (as in logic or argument).

How do you pronounce “converse”?

“Converse” is pronounced kuhn-VURS (/kənˈvɝs/ in IPA).

How do you use “converse” in a sentence?

Here is “converse” used in a sentence: “They conversed quietly in the corner of the room.”

What is another word for “converse”?

Words with a similar meaning to “converse” include chat, common, confab, confabulate, conversate and convo.

What part of speech is “converse”?

Depending on how it is used, “converse” can be a verb, an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “converse” come from?

The word “converse” comes from Latin. The verb is from Latin conversari, "to live among, keep company with." The adjective/noun sense comes from Latin conversus, "turned around.".

Is “converse” a common word?

“Converse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “converse” have?

“Converse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to talk with someone; to have a conversation.

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